PHILADELPHIA – Learfield Sports recently appointed Paul Beckles general manager for its Drexel Dragons Sports Properties team. He joins Drexel University’s exclusive athletic multimedia rights holder from the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, where he served five seasons.

Paul-BecklesBeckles, who grew up in Pennsylvania, served as the 76ers’ manager of corporate development in his most recent position with the organization, creating strategic partnerships for domestic and international companies looking to align with the team’s brand. Prior to that, he was manager of the Sixers camps and served as group sales specialist. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Beckles worked as partnership development manager for Positive Coaching Alliance, a non-profit coaching organization. Beckles received a sport management degree from Indiana University in Indiana, Pa.

At Learfield Sports’ Drexel Dragons Sports Properties, Beckles will lead all aspects of the rights relationship between Drexel Athletics and Learfield Sports including venue signage; event sponsorships and promotion; corporate hospitality; television; digital engagement via www.drexeldragons.com.   Slider_-Drexel

“We are pleased to have Paul join our Learfield Sports team,” said Learfield Sports Senior Vice President Steve Gowan. “His market knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to our partnership with Drexel University. We look forward to Paul’s leadership of Drexel Dragons Sports Properties.”

Learfield Sports is a leader in collegiate sports marketing. In addition to managing multimedia and sponsorship rights for 120 collegiate programs, Learfield titles the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup with award co-founders NACDA and USA Today. Representing collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas for their respective rights and sponsorship initiatives, Learfield offers these partners with professional concessions and ticket sales, licensing and trademark consulting, digital platform expertise and venue and technology systems through its owned companies. To learn more about its history, businesses and job opportunities, visit www.learfieldsports.com.